IQAir World Air Quality Report 2021.

 ~Preet

The 2021 World Air Quality Report was just issued, and it provided an assessment of the situation of global air quality in 2021. IQAir is a Swiss organisation that assesses air quality based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5. IQAir seeks to engage, educate, and motivate governments, researchers, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and individuals to collaborate in order to enhance air quality and promote healthier communities and cities. 

The 2021 World Air Quality Report was just issued, and it provided an assessment of the situation of global air quality in 2021. IQAir is a Swiss organisation that assesses air quality based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5. IQAir seeks to engage, educate, and motivate governments, researchers, non-governmental organisations, businesses, and individuals to collaborate in order to enhance air quality and promote healthier communities and cities. 

Air pollution is currently regarded as the world's most serious environmental health concern, responsible for seven million deaths worldwide each year. Many ailments, ranging from asthma to cancer, lung infections, and heart disease, are caused or exacerbated by air pollution. The projected daily economic cost of air pollution is USD 8 billion, or 3 to 4% of the Gross World Product (GWP). The Gross World Product (GWP) is the sum of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of all countries in the world, which equals the total global GDP. Those who are most vulnerable are the most affected by air pollution. It is anticipated that by 2021, 40,000 children under the age of five would have died as a result of PM2.5 air pollution. Furthermore, in this age of Covid-19, researchers have discovered that exposure to PM2.5 increases both the likelihood of catching the virus and the danger of experiencing more severe symptoms, including death, if infected. 

The analysis is based on data on PM2.5 air quality from 6,475 cities in 117 nations, regions, and territories worldwide. PM2.5, or particulate matter consisting of microscopic aerosol particles 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter, is one of six frequently measured criterion air pollutants and is often regarded as the most dangerous to human health owing to its abundance in the environment and wide range of health impacts. PM2.5 is produced by a variety of sources and can vary in chemical composition and physical properties. Sulphates, nitrates, black carbon, and ammonium are common chemical components of PM2.5. Internal combustion engines, power generation, industrial activities, agricultural processes, building, and domestic wood and coal burning are the most prevalent man-made sources. Dust storms, sandstorms, and wildfires are the most prevalent natural causes of PM2.5. 

The annual average PM2.5 level in India hit 58.1 g/m3 in 2021, bringing a stop to a three-year trend of improving air quality. Annual PM2.5 averages in India have already reverted to pre-quarantine levels reported in 2019. In 2021, India has 11 of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia. In 2021, Mumbai had a Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 yearly average of 46.4 micrograms/cubic metre, which was over nine times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.

In India, air pollution has a significant influence on human health. It is the second leading cause of sickness, and the economic impact of air pollution is estimated to be more than USD 150 billion per year. Vehicle emissions, electricity generation, industrial waste, biomass combustion for cooking, the construction industry, and periodic occurrences such as crop burning are major contributors of air pollution in India. The National Clean Air Program was established by India's Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in 2019. (NCAP). The strategy aims to reduce PM concentrations in all identified non-attainment cities by 20% to 30% by 2024, strengthen air quality monitoring, execute a municipal, regional, and state-specific clean air action plan, and perform source apportionment studies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic's lockdowns, restrictions, and ensuing economic depression have made determining the plan's impact based solely on air pollution levels challenging. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution (2015) to address the negative health impacts of air pollution. There is a requirement to follow the roadmap outlined in this section. This four-pillar approach asks for a more aggressive worldwide response to the negative health impacts of air pollution. Expanding the information base, Monitoring and reporting, Global leadership and coordination, and Institutional capacity improvement are the four pillars. There are major inequalities at the core of the air pollution problem, as poor people are also the ones who are most affected by it. As a result, the Polluter Pays principle must be enforced, and an environment tax must be placed on polluting enterprises.